Tractor



W. H. JOHNSON.

-TRAcToan APPLICATION FILED JANB| 19H). .193@@93310 Patented. 00u28, i919. 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

o1 o U s @lll l s I m wig' S i i0 Q 0 Aso l out the said specification and drawings, and y WILLIAM H'. JOHNSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. v b Patllted UCE. 28, 1919.

Application led January 8, 1919. Serial No. 271,322.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, tate of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention rel( tes to improvements in tractors wherein a series of connected flights operate in conjunction with an adjustable frame; and the invention consists in' the improved construction and arrangement of parts yas described in the specifications and disclosed in the drawings; and the objects of my improvement are- First, to provide an improved, simple and effective tractor;l

Second, t0 provide an improved construction for trac-tors whe-rein thelength of the supporting frame may". be easilyv and readily adjusted to the length of the flights or trac tive elements; and

Third, to provide a simple, cheap and effective construction having improved means for decreasing lateral as welll as longitudinal friction of the supporting frame on the trac-tive elements.A l I accomplish these and several objects by means of the device disclosed in the draw ings forming a part of the present specification where-in like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughin which- Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of my improved tractor;

Fig. 2 is a broken elevation of the trac- `tor frame with the flights removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on' line' 3-4-3 ,of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged broken view of the lower portion of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 is used todesignate in general a channel having upper and lower portions 2 and 3 respectively connected `at one end by means of a semicircular portion or channel 4.

The .lower portion 3 and the semicircular portion 4 are provided at the inner edges with laterally extending flanges 6, the pur pose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth. v

The other ends of the upper and lower portions 2 and 3 of the channel 1 have pivotally connected thereto overlapping arcuate portions 7 connected at their free .ends by means of a right and left hand screw threaded bolt 8 by means of which said free ends ma)v be moved apart or toward each other for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the length of the periphery 'of the channel 1 and the overlapping arcuate portions 7 pivotally connected thereto.

A series of connected flights or tractors 9 are mounted upon the periphery of the channel 1 and the arcuate portions T. The pins 10 pivotally connecting said flights 9 are provided with rollers 11 which serve the doiible purpose of supporting the lower portion 3 of the channel 1 and also for supporting the flights 10 on the upper portion 2' of said channel 1.

In order to reduce frictional Contact between `the links of the nights 9 and the sides of the lower portion 3 of the channel 1 when the tractor is opera-ting on a hill side or the like I have provided ball bearings 12 rotatably mounted within suitable cups or housing 14 so that the periphery of each ball 1Q bears. against the side of the lower portion 3 of the channel 1 and the inner side of the links of said flights 9 as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

A vertically disposed member .16 is mounted lloe-tvv` een the upper and lower portions 2 and 3 of the channel 1 at a point adjacent the semicircular portion 4 while a second inclined member 17 is mounted between the member 16 and the .loifvjfer part of the semicircular portion 4 to brace said portion 4 and thereby render the saule more rigid when the tractor is moving in a reversed direction over uneven ground or against an obstruction.

A suitable bearing 18 is mounted upon the member 16 within which is rotatably mounted a driving element or sprocketvlf) which extends through a slot 20 within the semicircular portion 4 and engages the rollers 11 on the flights 9 to move the channel lover said rollers 11. The slot 2O extends a sufficient distance into the upper and lower portions 2 and 3 to permit a proper operation of the sprocket 19.

1n operation the sprocket 19 engages the rollers 11 on the pins 10 of the connected flights 9, and as the lower portion 3. of the frame or channel 1 is resting upon and supported by said rollers 11 said channel 1 is easily moved.

Vhen the connected flights, through Wear,

, or from other cause, are mounted too loosely of the links of the flights 9 thereby reducing frictional resistance between said lower portion 3 and the flights 9.

The laterallyextending flanges 6 are provided for the purpose of preventing dirt and other debris from dropping 'into the interior of theflights 9 and onto the rollers 1l thereof.

It is obvious from the foregoing that I have provided a. new and improved construetion for tractors and the like wherein the frame may be readily adjusted to the connected flights, It is also obvious that I have provided improved means for reducing the lateral frictional resista-nce of the frame relatively to the flights.

I am aware that the present state of the art discloses tractors having connected flights having rollers to support the tractor frame. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly as my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isvl. A tractor comprising a channel having upper andlower portions connected atone end by means of a semicircular portion;

arcuate channel portions pivotally connected to the other ends of the upper and lower portions to form a semicircular connection for said ends; connected flights mounted around the channel and arcuate portions connected thereto; and means for moving said arcuate portions to adjust the channel to the flights. i

2. A tractor comprising a channel having upper portions` connected at one end by meansofl asemicircular channel, said lower and semicircula-r portions having .lateral flanges extending from the inner edges.

thereof; arcuate channel portions pivotally connected to the other ends of the upper and lower portions to form a semicircular connection for said ends; connected flights mounted around the channel and arcuate portions to support the same; and means for moving saidarcuate portions to adjust the channel to the flights.

3. A tractor comprising a channel having upper and lower portions connected at one end by` means of a semicircular portion; arcuate channel portions pivotally connected to the other ends ofthe upper and lower portions to form a senncircular connection for said ends; connected flights mounted around the channel and arcuate portions; rollers mounted upon the flights to support the channel; and means for moving the free end of the arcuate portions of the channel' y to adjust the flights to said channel.

l. A tractor comprising a channel having upper and lower port-ions connected at lone end by means of a. scmicircula'r portion; said lower and semicircular portions being provided on the inner edges thereof with laterally extending flanges; arcuate channel phr-4 tions pivotally connected to-the other ends of the upper and lower portions and having overlapping ends; connected flights mounted around the outer sides of the channels and arcuate portions; rollers mounted upon the flights to support the channel; means for moving the free overlapping ends of the arcuate portions to adjust said portions and the channel to said flights; and means for Y mounted around the outer sidesof the channels and arcuate portions; rollers mounted upon the flights to support the channel;

means for'moving the free overlapping ends of the arcuate portions to adjust said por-A tions and the channel to said flights; means for engaging the flights to move the channel over said flights; and -balls rotatably mounted upon the flights to engage the sides of the lower portion.

In witness whereof Ihereunto set my signature.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON. 

